Critical habitat for native moth to cost less than $2 million

By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Science Writer

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that its proposed designation of critical habitat for the Blackburn's sphinx moth could result in costs of $1.2 million to $1.9 million over 10 years.

The likely costs are mainly associated with changes that would be required in the proposed Ane Kohokaolole Highway in Kona to reduce the impact of road construction on the endangered creature.

The moth is Hawai'i's largest known native insect, with a wingspan of 5 inches. It is found primarily in rugged areas, which reduces the likely impact of designating its critical habitat.

"The lands involved are generally rugged and remote, and are largely unsuitable for development or other activities," said Paul Henson, field supervisor of the service's Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office.

That is quite different from the situation, reported earlier, in the service's proposal to designate nearly 4,000 acres around Kaua'i's Po'ipu resort district as critical habitat for two cave creatures, a blind spider and a shrimp-like cave amphipod.

In that case, costs have been estimated at $742 million to $1.9 billion over 18 years because most of the land is property planned or usable for development.

Once critical habitat is established, landowners receiving federal money, federal permits or authorizations must consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service before making changes on the land that could affect the endangered species.

In many cases that could require changes to mitigate the impact on the species. In the case of the sphinx moth and the Kona highway, for example, modifications could include realignment of parts of the road, building fire breaks, revegetating areas with native species and conducting conservation projects off-site to make up for habitat losses on-site.

Draft economic analyses for both projects were prepared by consulting firms. Copies of the reports on critical habitat for the species are available on the Web at pacificislands.fws.gov.

Comments on the Blackburn's sphinx moth habitat designation, which includes land on Maui, Hawai'i, Moloka'i and Kaho'olawe, can be sent to the Fish and Wildlife Service by Dec. 30, and on the Kaua'i cave animals by Dec. 16. Comments can be sent to Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands Office, 300 Ala Moana, Room 3-122, Box 50088, Honolulu, HI 96850.

Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 245-3074.